Package construction

ABSTRACT

A carton construction for use in packaging sheet materials. The carton construction may be formed of a single sheet of folded material, such as corrugated cardboard. The carton construction is arranged to permit facilitated removal of the sheets as desired while providing a facial frictional force tending to prevent lateral translation of the individual sheets in the carton construction in shipment.

United States Patent [1 1 Christensen et a1.

[ Apr. 16, 1974 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: Delbert L. Christensen; James A.

Kalin, both of Elmhurst, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Flex-O-Glass, Inc;, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,745

521 U.s,c .......,....20 {s1,10 14 53, 206/52 229/40 [51] Int. Cl B6511 85/00 [58] Field Of Search 229/40, 76, 87, 48 SB; 206/60 R, 57 R, 62 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,241 7/1932 Vineberg 229/76 x 2,333,798 11/1943 Kner 206/60 X 3,325,964 6/1967 Boitel 229/40 X 2/1963 Roop 224/48 SB 3,344,945 10/1967 Bozek 220/53 2,526,052 10/1950 Stimmel 229/40 X 3,485,435 12/1969 Greene et al.. 229/40 3,465,946 9/1969 Johnson 229/40 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firml-lofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT A carton construction for use in packaging sheet materials. The carton construction may be formed of a single sheet of folded material, such as corrugated cardboard. The carton construction is arranged to permit facilitated removal of the sheets as desired while providing a facial frictional force tending to prevent lateral translation of the individual sheets in the carton construction in shipment.

17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to carton constructions and in particular to carton constructions adapted for packaging sheet materials.

2. Description of the Prior Art A problem arises in the packaging of sheet material, such as rigid or semi-rigid plastic sheets, in that the sheets tend to slide over each other and cause damage to the corners of the sheets as a result of rough handling of the package such as in shipment or warehousing operations. One solution to this problem has been to secure the sheets against lateral movement by causing the dimensions of the container to be accurately those of the sheet stock thereby to preclude lateral movement of the individual sheets. Such an arrangement, however, makes it difficult for the user to remove the individual sheets from the package as a result of the tendency of the sheets to bind along their edges as they are withdrawn.

Another solution to the problem has been to provide a package which may be opened to expose the entire group of sheets so that they may be removed freely. This attempted solution, however, has the drawback of destroying the entire packaging arrangement of the carton so that the carton cannot be used effectively for maintaining the remainder of the sheets suitably packaged when less than all of the sheets are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved carton construction for use in packaging sheet materials arranged to provide for facilitated removal of individual sheets when desired while yet effectively precluding an undesirable lateral movement of the sheets in the package such as during shipment.

More specifically, the carton construction of the present invention includes a back wall defining side, bottom and top edges, a front wall defining side, bottom and top edges, side walls extending between the side edges of the back and front walls, spacing the back and front walls apart a preselected distance to define a space therebetween for receiving a preselected stack of sheets having a stack height. slightly greater than the spacing, at least one of the back and front walls being resilient to be deformed outwardly by the sheet stack and apply a resulting pressure against the sheet stack tending to hold the sheets therein against face-to-face displacement, and means for closing the space at the bottom and top edges of the back and front walls.

The side walls may be formed as an inturned extension of the side edges of either or both of the back and front walls. For maximized economy in construction, the carton may be formed of a single piece of sheet stock, such as cardboard, corrugated board, etc.

The front wall terminates short of the rear wall to define an opening exposing the top portions of the sheets in the carton. The carton may include a cover portion folded down to close the opening defined by the short front wall and the cover may be secured as during shipment by suitable means such as a strip of adhesive tape.

The walls may be secured in the carton-forming disposition by any suitable means such as stapling, cementing, etc.

The carton construction of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank adapted for use in forming a carton construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank in a partially carton-forming arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the carton construction with a sheet material stack disposed therein;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with the carton construction enclosing the sheet material stack; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawing, a carton construction generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a formed carton adapted to contain a plurality of sheets 11. In illustrating the invention, the sheets are disclosed as comprising rigid sheets which may. be formed of plastic, such as acrylic resin, one example thereof being the breakresistant acrylic resin sheets sold by the assignee hereof under the trademark PLASTI-PANE. The carton 10 is arranged to hold the stacked sheet material against undesirable free lateral movement while yet permitting facilitated removal of the sheets from the carton package when desired. To this end, the carton 10 is arranged to provide a facial frictional force to the stacked sheets 11 while yet providing clearance along the edges thereof for facilitated withdrawal from the carton when desired.

More specifically, the carton construction comprises a back wall 12 defining side edges 13 and 14, a bottom edge 15 and a top edge l6. A front wall 17 is connected to the bottom wall and defines side edges 18 and 19, bottom edge 20, and top edge 21. The carton, in the formed arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, defines side walls 22 and 23 extending between the side edges of the front and back walls and effectively spacing the front and back walls apart a preselected distance to define a space 24 therebetween for receiving the preselected stacks of sheets 11. The stack of sheets preferably has a stack height slightly greater than the spacing between the front wall 17 and back wall 12, as shown in FIG. 5. Either or both of the front and back walls is resilient so as to be deformed outwardly by the sheet stack and thereby apply a pressure against the sheet stack tending to hold the sheets in the carton frictionally against faceto-face lateral displacement. The carton may further include a bottom end wall means and a top end wall means 26 for closing the carton with the sheets disposed therein thereby to provide a packaged carton assembly suitable for shipping and storage purposes. As

shown in FIG. 4, the top end wall means 26 may be sealingly closed as by an adhesive strip 27.

The side walls 22 and 23 herein are defined by inturned portions 28 and 29 of the back wall side edges 13 and 14, inturned portions 30 and 31 of the front wall side edges 18 and 19, and inturned portions 32 and 33 at the sides of the top end wall means 26. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the side walls may be formed separately from the back, front, and top walls and may be secured thereto by suitable means, such as stapling or cementing, although substantial economy may be effected in forming the side wall portions integrally with the back, top, and front walls.

To effect such integral formation of the carton construction, the entire carton may be formed from a single blank 34 of suitable material, such as cardboard, corrugated board, etc., as shown in FIG. 1. The back wall portion 12 may be provided with suitable score lines 35 to permit forming of the side wall portions 28 and 29 therefrom, the front wall 17 may be provided with suitable score lines 36 for forming the side wall portions and 31 therefrom, and the top end wall means 26 may be provided with suitable score lines 37 for forming the side wall portions 32 and 33 therefrom. The blank may be provided with suitable score lines 38 for forming the bottom wall to interconnect the back wall 12 and front wall 17 and may be further provided with score lines 39 for suitably folding the top end wall means 26 to complete the closure of the top of the carton construction.

Suitable cutouts 42 may be provided in the edges of the cardboard to permit the engagement of the side wall portions 28, 29, and 31 in the folded arrangement of the carton, as best illustrated in FIG. 2.

The blank may be secured in the carton-forming arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by suitable securing means, such as staples 40. The upper ends of the sheets 11 extend beyond the top edge 21 of the front wall 17, as shown in FIG. 3, so that when the cover, effectively defined by top end wall means 26, is opened, facilitated removal of the individual sheets 11 from the carton may be effected. As shown in'FIG. 5, the lateral width of space 24' in the carton 10 is made to be greater than the corresponding lateral width of the sheets 11 thereby to define a clearance space 41 at each side of the stacked sheets 1 l to permit facilitated outward sliding movement of the sheets notwithstanding the frictional facial engagement therebetween.

The sealing tape 27 effectively closes the opening at the top of the sheets so as to prevent introduction of dust and dirt and thereby maintain the plastic sheets clean within the carton. At the same time, the strip augments the holding action of the staples to secure the carton in the closed arrangement.

Illustratively, where the sheets 11 comprise plastic sheets having a thickness of 0. 100 inch, five such sheets may be provided in the stack with the height of the side walls 22 and 23 being approximately 0.450 inch to provide a height of space 24 approximately 10 percent less than the stack height. Thus, illustratively, the same carton may function similarly with sheets of 0.125 inch thickness where four such sheets are provided in the carton, or sheets of 0.080 inch thickness where six such sheets are provided in the carton. Further, by varying the thickness of the stock 34 material or the number of folds of the side edge portions, different height stacks may be handled in the carton.

The strip 27 and carton may have a similar yellow color for improved facilitated identification of the sheet material. To provide further dust-free enclosure of the sheets, the edges may be secured by cementing.

The carton construction 10 is extremely simple and economical of manufacture while yet providing the improved sheet material packaging means discussed above. The sheet material is readily available by the simple removal of the tab 27 and the opening of the top cover 26. It is unnecessary to use a sharp instrument, such as a knife, to open the package thereby effectively avoiding damage to the plastic sheets therein by inadvertent cutting thereof.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

We claim:

1. A package construction comprising: a carton including a back wall defining side, bottom and top edges, a front wall defining side, bottom and top edges, and substantially rigid side walls extending between said side edges of said back and front walls, spacing said back and front walls apart a preselected fixed distance to define a space therebetween; and a preselected stack of sheets having a stack height slightly greater than said spacing and a width less than the spacing between said side walls received in said space, at least one of said back and front walls being resiliently deformed outwardly by said sheet stack and applying a resulting pressure againspthe sheet stack tending to hold the sheets therein against face-to-face displacement between said side walls.

2. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned portion of each of said side edges of at least one of said back and front walls.

3. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned portion of each of said side edges of each of said back and front walls.

4. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned and outwardly folded portion of each of said side edges of at least one of said back and front walls.

5. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned and outwardly folded portion of each of said side edges of each of said back and front walls.

6. The package construction of claim 1 wherein said carton is formed of a single sheet of stock.

7. A package construction comprising: a carton including a back wall defining side, bottom and top edges, a front wall defining side, bottom and top edges, and substantially rigid side walls extending between said side edges of said back and front walls, spacing said back and front walls apart a preselected fixed distance to define a space therebetween; and a preselected stack of sheets received in said space, said front wall having a height between said bottom and top edges thereof less than the face height of the sheets of the stack, said back wall having a height between said bottom and top edges thereof greater than the face height of the sheets whereby an upper portion of the sheet stack is disposed beyond said top edge of the front wall and forwardly of the upper portion of the back wall, said side walls including a portion extending forwardly from said back wall laterally of said upper portion of the sheet stack a distance less than the thickness of the sheet stack for facilitated withdrawal of the sheets from said space.

8. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly beyond the level of .said top edge of the front wall.

9. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly at least to the top edge of the upper portion of the stack.

10. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall.

11. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a strip of adhesive backed tape secured to said front cover portion and said front wall for removably sealing the closing means at said top edge of the front wall.

12. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly beyond the level of said top edge of the front wall, and further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, said side walls further including a portion on said front cover portion.

13. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is formed integrally with said back wall to extend upwardly beyond the level of said top edge of the front wall, and further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, said side walls further including a portion formed integrally with said front cover portion.

14. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a top wall portion extending forwardly from said top edge. of the back wall a height substantially equal to the back-to-front height of said side walls.

15. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a strip of adhesive backed tape secured to said front cover portion and said front wall for removably sealing the closing means at said top edge of the front wall, said carton and strip having a similar yellow color.

16. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls are extensible and are fixedly secured in a contracted disposition by mechanical fastening means.

top edges of said back and front walls of the carton. 

1. A package construction comprising: a carton including a back wall defining side, bottom and top edges, a front wall defining side, bottom and top edges, and substantially rigid side walls extending between said side edges of said back and front walls, spacing said Back and front walls apart a preselected fixed distance to define a space therebetween; and a preselected stack of sheets having a stack height slightly greater than said spacing and a width less than the spacing between said side walls received in said space, at least one of said back and front walls being resiliently deformed outwardly by said sheet stack and applying a resulting pressure against the sheet stack tending to hold the sheets therein against face-to-face displacement between said side walls.
 2. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned portion of each of said side edges of at least one of said back and front walls.
 3. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned portion of each of said side edges of each of said back and front walls.
 4. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned and outwardly folded portion of each of said side edges of at least one of said back and front walls.
 5. The package construction of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises an inturned and outwardly folded portion of each of said side edges of each of said back and front walls.
 6. The package construction of claim 1 wherein said carton is formed of a single sheet of stock.
 7. A package construction comprising: a carton including a back wall defining side, bottom and top edges, a front wall defining side, bottom and top edges, and substantially rigid side walls extending between said side edges of said back and front walls, spacing said back and front walls apart a preselected fixed distance to define a space therebetween; and a preselected stack of sheets received in said space, said front wall having a height between said bottom and top edges thereof less than the face height of the sheets of the stack, said back wall having a height between said bottom and top edges thereof greater than the face height of the sheets whereby an upper portion of the sheet stack is disposed beyond said top edge of the front wall and forwardly of the upper portion of the back wall, said side walls including a portion extending forwardly from said back wall laterally of said upper portion of the sheet stack a distance less than the thickness of the sheet stack for facilitated withdrawal of the sheets from said space.
 8. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly beyond the level of said top edge of the front wall.
 9. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly at least to the top edge of the upper portion of the stack.
 10. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall.
 11. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a strip of adhesive backed tape secured to said front cover portion and said front wall for removably sealing the closing means at said top edge of the front wall.
 12. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is carried on said back wall and extending upwardly beyond the level of said top edge of the front wall, and further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, said side walls further including a portion on said front cover portion.
 13. The packAge construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls portion is formed integrally with said back wall to extend upwardly beyond the level of said top edge of the front wall, and further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, said side walls further including a portion formed integrally with said front cover portion.
 14. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a top wall portion extending forwardly from said top edge of the back wall a height substantially equal to the back-to-front height of said side walls.
 15. The package construction of claim 7 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls including a front cover portion overlying said upper portion of the sheet stack and having a lower edge juxtaposed to said top edge of the front wall, and a strip of adhesive backed tape secured to said front cover portion and said front wall for removably sealing the closing means at said top edge of the front wall, said carton and strip having a similar yellow color.
 16. The package construction of claim 7 wherein said side walls are extensible and are fixedly secured in a contracted disposition by mechanical fastening means.
 17. The package construction of claim 1 further including means for closing said space at said bottom and top edges of said back and front walls of the carton. 